The preseason is drawing to a close as the men's soccer team prepares for the start of its 2009 campaign. This season, the Polar Bears hope to improve upon their 7th place finish in the NESCAC in 2008, when they went 4-5 (overall 6-8). Last year they did reach the playoffs but lost to Middlebury in the quarterfinals.
This year, the men are off to a good start in their two preseason matches. On September 2, the Bears won 1-0 against University College Cork, which was visiting from Ireland. Defenseman Call Nichols '12 scored the only goal of the game, kicking in a loose ball off a corner kick.
On September 5, the team traveled north to face off against the Colby Mules. The Polar Bears again emerged with a 1-0 win, this time with a goal by midfielder Nick Powell '12.
Captain Tom Wakefield '10 noted that he thought the team's "form improved from the first to second game."
Head Coach Fran O'Leary also expressed confidence in the "good team spirit" that the team exuded and the "calm leadership" that the captains demonstrated.
However, as is to be expected in soccer, the team has been affected by a number of injuries. Nevertheless, O'Leary was undaunted by these setbacks, mentioning that there are "enough good players, and injuries are part of [the game]."
Included in the list of injured players are Wakefield and co-captain Matt Ostrup '10. Despite both being affected by muscle injuries, the captains hope to be able to play on Saturday, when the Bears kick off the season at Amherst.
The game should prove to be an early test for the men's team. Amherst is a strong team and is currently ranked No. 3 in Division III by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). The Bears will be coming in strong in search of a repeat performance of the 4-2 win they accomplished last season.
Last year's victory was particularly commendable as Amherst not only won the 2008 NESCAC crown, but also reached the national semifinals.
Ostrup expressed a positive outlook on the match, noting that "it's always a good time to play the guys who went to the Final Four. The game will be revealing of us."
O'Leary echoed the captain's comments, saying that the upcoming match against Amherst will be a "great opportunity that we need to seize."
Upon their return from Amherst, the Polar Bears will prepare for their first home game on Saturday, September 12, when they will face off against the University of Southern Maine at Bowdoin.